UPDATE: Surrey RCMP confirms that some of the people at this rally had the words “Soldiers of Odin” on their vests and jackets. Soldiers of Odin is reportedly an anti-immigrant group that was founded in Kemi, Finland. Ironically, a different country.
NEWTON — A small rally outside Newton’s Surrey Jamea Masjid mosque early Tuesday evening is causing a stir on social media as people debate what exactly it was about and sling opinions.
A video on Facebook showed what looked to be about a dozen people on the sidewalk outside the mosque at 124th Street and 72nd Avenue, with a couple Mounties standing by. The Now-Leader had it posted here online until it became “no longer available.”
A Surrey RCMP spokesman said nobody did anything requiring police intervention.
Daud Ismail, president of the BC Muslim Association, told the Now-Leader late Wednesday afternoon that he thought it was anti-Muslim.
“What I understand is there were three or four individuals and they came and were just shouting some slogans No Sharia law and I don’t know if they were trying to stir up something there,” he said.
“I think it was anti-Muslim. It’s just a form of what was happening in the States, I think. Just a bunch of people…I think they were shouting No Sharia Law. I don’t know where this is coming from; nobody in the Muslim community is talking about Sharia law.”
“We’re not paying much attention to these people, it’s a small voice,” Ismail said. “They were just shouting, and I think the RCMP were there.”
He said he doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it.
“They are just trying to stir up something. Nobody’s talking about Sharia law; I don’t even think they understand what Sharia law is. Muslims are not even asking for it.”
“There is no need for a Sharia law in Canada,” Ismail said.
“Fear of the unknown, I think it is.
“I think they don’t deserve any attention.”
Sharia law, or Islamic law, requires submission to that religion’s rules.
